News media information 202/418-0500,
Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830,
Internet http://www.fcc.gov or ftp.fcc.gov
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission Action.
Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 516 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2000

News Media Contact:
David Fiske at (202) 418-0500.

FCC INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST OF SUSPECTINTERFERING WITH POLICE FREQUENCIESIN THE LOS ANGELES AREA

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Federal Communications Commission today announced that an
investigation by the Commission's Enforcement Bureau concerning interference to
police radio communications has led to the arrest of a California man. Jack
Gerritsen of Bell, California was apprehended December 28, 1999, after agents
from the Commission's Los Angeles Field Office electronically located the
suspect's transmissions and observed him as he operated a hand held radio
device.

Detectives from the Southern Division, Investigative Services Unit of the
California Highway Patrol (CHP), who worked on the investigation in conjunction
with Commission agents from the Los Angeles office, made the arrest. Several
local Los Angeles area police departments and other licensees had filed
complaints with the Commission concerning what was described as intentional
interference on their assigned frequencies. The suspect has been charged with
allegedly violating sections of the California Penal Code that prohibits
intercepting, obstructing and/or interfering with police radio communications.
In addition to the California Penal Code violations, the Commission's
Enforcement Bureau has determined that the suspect's actions were also in
violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47
U.S.C. §301.